wHO wE are

The Relatives & Residents Association exists for older people needing, or living in, residential care and the families and friends left behind at home.

WHAT WE DO

We are here to support and inform residents, families and friends to find out all they need to know about residential care and to help them if things go wrong. Additionally, we speak out on behalf of a sector who cannot always speak out for themselves.

our helpline

We offer information, comfort and support via a daily helpline. We take the time to listen and give whatever support is needed.

influencing policy & practice

We take note of your concerns and relay them to the people who can make changes. We send out potent messages and push for improvements for the benefit of vulnerable older people in care.

SECRET CAMERAS ARE STILL NOT THE ANSWER

In response to the recent RCN conference resolution on the use of secret filming, Judy Downey, Chair of the The Relatives & Residents Association (R&RA) said:

"Like the RCN, the R&RA is generally against the use of secret cameras by the regulator or anyone else and consider it inappropriate as a substitute for proper supervision. We have, however, worked with relatives when they suspected abuse or neglect and got no effective response. Indeed, we have been involved in making two Panorama programmes in support of relatives in this intolerable situation. Nonetheless, cameras are no substitute for good care and supervision, accompanied by a more rigorous and frequent inspection regime. We also need to remember those residents who have no-one to watch over them or speak up for them. What about their interests?

If CCTV is to be used, except in dire circumstances, it should be with the knowledge and consent of all parties; managers, staff and residents. It can then be used to sample care practice and for training, as well as to give praise and encourage good practice openly and fairly."

TODAY'S MEDIA ON CARE HOME OPEN DAY

This is the day when we should be looking at and rejoicing in the best care in care homes. However, the BBC's lead story on care today was that the Care Quality Commissions's (CQC) latest figures show that nearly one-half of all care homes were rated as 'requiring improvement' or being 'inadequate'.

The results of inspections of care homes for older people are generally worse than those for other age groups, so the impression is still left of a sector in dire need of investment and invigoration. Both difficult to achieve in a climate of decreasing expenditure and with a high turnover of staff.

Also today, Radio 4's 'You & Yours' examined the impact of an open 'no blame culture' in the airline industry and current attempts to translate this to the NHS to enable better care to flourish. How about transferring some of those ideas to care homes where surely this cuture change is just as badly needed as in the NHS? It would help to give all staff encouragement to query practice in the interests of residents. Just as the R&RA's Keys to Care and app help foster better care and build care workers' confidence in their own contributions to a better care home life.

Our Campaigns and Projects

Time running out for older people at risk in care

The Relatives & Residents Association is calling on the government to make urgent changes to the Care Quality Commission – the body responsible for regulating care homes for older people. We want to see a complete change in he way this organisation works and protects older people in care homes.

call FOR Government to make providers accountable

We want to see new regulations which will ensure that organisations pay sufficient attention to the safety and welfare of their residents. We also want to see registrations which will ensure that owners and managers can no longer absolve themselves when failures occur.

We are working with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to help relatives' voices to be heard. We are looking at how calls to our helpline can inform CQC and help them protect residents. During the pilot, anyone contacting us who is worried about quality of care will have their information passed immediately to CQC. In turn, CQC will update us with any action they take.

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Corporate Member of The R&RA,Barchester Healthcare, declares its support